Picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, this player is not in today's USA line-up

During the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Kailer Yamamoto was drafted 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers.

Even at the time, his very small frame, coming in at 5'8 and 148 lbs, was a huge concern for many of the prognosticators. Something that may explain why he was drafted so late into the first round. 

A report from the Oilers organization may suggest that those concerns are becoming reality: 

Thankfully, when questioned by interviewers earlier this week, Wayne Gretzky gracefully reassured everyone by reaffirming his faith in the young star:

“He’s got tremendous hockey sense, he’s fast, and he’s very tough. He plays bigger than a guy who’s 5-foot-7, so I think he got drafted by the right team and we’re excited to have him. I think he’s going to fit in very nicely.”